: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
the diverse fauna of the island
compare flora
faunally
adverb
Did you know?
Faunus and Fauna were the Roman woodland god and goddess for whom animals were a particular concern. Faunus was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan, and like Pan, he had goats' legs. Their goat-legged helpers, called fauns, were known for their love of pleasure and mischief. The fauna of a continent are often very similar across a broad east-west band; from north to south, however, they may vary greatly.
Examples of fauna in a Sentence
studying the diverse fauna of the island
studying the faunas of different islands
Recent Examples on the Web
Bighorn National Forest Renowned for its diverse range of habitats, Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest is home to rushing rivers, grassy plains and craggy cliffs, each one coming equipped with its own unique array of flora and fauna.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Torrey Pines Conservancy to hold outdoor events at natural reserve
The Torrey Pines Conservancy plans several events in coming months intended to showcase the flora and fauna at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Just 45 minutes east of San Juan, El Yunque National Forest stands as a testament to the lush beauty of Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central, with all sorts of fascinating flora and fauna thriving within its boundaries.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Through its tours, the New Smyrna Beach nonprofit informs visitors about the flora and fauna found within the estuary, plus the problems plaguing the ecosystem and ongoing recovery efforts.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fauna
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Torrey Pines Conservancy to hold outdoor events at natural reserve
The Torrey Pines Conservancy plans several events in coming months intended to showcase the flora and fauna at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Just 45 minutes east of San Juan, El Yunque National Forest stands as a testament to the lush beauty of Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central, with all sorts of fascinating flora and fauna thriving within its boundaries.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Through its tours, the New Smyrna Beach nonprofit informs visitors about the flora and fauna found within the estuary, plus the problems plaguing the ecosystem and ongoing recovery efforts.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fauna
Cite this Entry
“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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Medical Definition
fauna
noun
fau·na
ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- 
: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1
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